University Catalog 2023-2024

Undergraduate Admission

NC State is a member of the Common Application and the Coalition for Access, Affordability, and Success. Students may choose to apply through either application system. Undergraduate Admissions implements a notification date system for both domestic freshman and transfer applicants. International applicants are notified of their admission decision on a rolling basis once their application is complete. Freshmen are strongly encouraged to apply during the fall of their senior year in high school by the early action deadline. 

Application Dates and Deadlines

Freshman and transfer applicants for the College of Design and Fashion and Textile Design program must submit a complete application including a portfolio and additional essay by November 1 and list it as their first choice major. 

All applications for the spring semester should be submitted prior to October 1. A few programs do not accept applications for spring entry including applied mathematics and mathematics, College of Design studio-based majors, College of Engineering, Exploratory Studies, fashion and textile design, physics and statistics.

Students are notified of their decision on their wolfPAW account and admitted students must confirm their enrollment by May 1, or within ten days of if they are accepted after May 1.

The Undergraduate Admissions website provides more information on the application review process and procedure.

Office of Undergraduate Admissions
NC State University
121 Peele Hall
Campus Box 7103
10 Watauga Club Drive
Raleigh, NC 2707
Phone: 919-515-2434
Email: undergrad-admissions@ncsu.edu
 

Jon Westover, Associate Vice Provost and Director of Undergraduate Admissions

Admission to the university is highly competitive. Applicants are asked to indicate their first and second choices for a curriculum, including undeclared majors within a college, or, if undecided, to indicate their choice of participating in University College Exploratory Studies. Applicants not admitted in their first curriculum choice will be reviewed for admission in their second curriculum choice. The admissions decision is based on a holistic review of a complete application. Of primary importance is the high school record, including the level and difficulty of the courses taken, the overall grade point average, rank in class, and scores on the SAT or the ACT. Extracurricular involvement, leadership, and many other factors are also considered.

Admissions Requirements

The Board of Governors of the University of North Carolina System has determined that the Minimum Course Requirements (MCR) for all constituent institutions, including NC State, shall include a high school diploma or its equivalent and the following course units taken in high school:

  1. Six course units in language, including
    • Four units in English
    • Two units in a language other than English
  2. Four course units of mathematics in any of the following combinations:
    • Algebra I and II, Geometry, and one unit beyond Algebra II
    • Algebra I and II, and two units beyond Algebra II or
    • Integrated Math I, II, III and one unit beyond Integrated Math III
  3. Three course units in science, including
    • At least one unit in a life or biological science, and
    • At least one unit in physical science, and
    • At least one laboratory course
  4. Two course units in social studies, including
    • One unit in U.S. history
    • One other unit in social studies

Competitive applicants will typically exceed these minimum courses.  It is recommended that every student take a foreign language course and a mathematics course in their senior year.

NC State does not conduct individual interviews with applicants, however, students are always welcome to walk-in and meet with an admissions officer at NC State's Joyner Visitor Center. Information sessions and student led campus tours are also available Monday through Friday at the Campus Visits office in Talley Student Union.

How to Apply

  1. Review our deadlines: The application opens in August
  2. Complete the application through the Common App or the Coalition App; we do not have a preference. Applicants for Studio-Based Majors will also need to submit a portfolio.
  3. Pay the $85 application fee, or provide an official fee waiver.
  4. Self-report your test scores. Visit our website for more information and for our school codes.
  5. Submit your official academic transcript.
  6. Check your status in your wolfPAW account throughout the application process.

Admissions Dates and Deadlines

Decisions are released on the corresponding notification date as long as the application is complete by the deadline. 

Fall Entry Early Action:

  • Deadline: November 1
  • Notification Date: January 30

Fall Entry Regular Decision:

  • Deadline: January 15
  • Notification Date: March 30

Spring Entry Regular Decision:

  • Deadline: October 1
  • Notification Date: December 1

Some programs do not accept applications for spring entry. Visit our website for details.

Studio-Based Majors

The following programs are considered studio-based majors and are fall entry only:

  • Architecture
  • Art & Design
  • Fashion & Textile Design
  • Graphic Design
  • Industrial Design

Application Deadline: November 1

Portfolio and Optional Essay Due: November 1

Agricultural Institute

NC State’s 2-year Agricultural Institute (AGI) accepts freshman and transfer applicants.

Fall Entry:

  • Deadline: June 1
  • Decision Date: Rolling

Spring Entry:

  • Deadline: October 1
  • Decision Date: Rolling

Credit Opportunities

Students can jump-start their college careers by acquiring pre-enrollment credits by one or more of the following means:

  1. by passing a proficiency examination administered by a teaching department at NC State;
  2. by meeting a specific minimum score on certain Advance Placement Program (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB) examinations, and/or A and AS Level Equivalencies; and/or
  3. by attaining a minimum score on certain College Level Examination Program (CLEP) subject tests.

Learn about the recognized test curriculum, accepted test scores and credit awarded at admissions.ncsu.edu/apply/credit-opportunities.

Out-of-State Students

Undergraduate applicants from outside North Carolina are reviewed using the same criteria as applicants from North Carolina. NC State is limited to enrolling not more than 18 percent of total new undergraduate students from outside the state as set forth by the University of North Carolina System.

The path to NC State is not always direct. About 20 percent of our students start their college career at another college or university. All transfer applicants should have at least 30 transferable college credit hours completed, including specific coursework and a competitive GPA based on the major you are applying for. Meeting these recommendations does not guarantee admission but sets you up to be considered a competitive applicant in the review process. View our recommendations for competitive applicants.

What We Look For

Here are some of the items we're looking at when evaluating your transfer application to NC State:

  1. Your college coursework and GPA
  2. Your high school coursework and test scores if you have less than 30 transferable college semester credit hours completed
  3. Your interest in the program you're applying for
  4. Your accomplishments/involvement outside of the classroom
  5. Your background and opportunities
  6. Your individual story

Visit our Transfer Admissions website for more information and recommendations for competitive transfer applicants. Students are always welcome to walk-in and meet with an admissions officer at NC State's Joyner Visitor Center. Information sessions and student led campus tours are also available Monday through Friday at the Campus Visits office in Talley Student Union.

How to Apply

  1. Review our deadlines: The application opens in August. Be sure to pay attention to additional requirements and timelines for Studio-Based Majors and the Agricultural Institute.
  2. Plan your path, and review our recommendations for competitive applicants.
  3. Complete the application through the Common App or the Coalition App; we do not have a preference. Applicants for Studio-Based Majors will also need to submit a portfolio.
  4. Pay the application fee or provide an official fee waiver.
  5. Submit your official academic transcript(s) from each institution you have attended.
  6. Check your status in your wolfPAW account throughout the application process.

Admissions Dates and Deadlines

Decisions are released on the corresponding notification date as long as the application is complete by the deadline. 

Fall Entry Regular Decision:

  • Deadline: January 15
  • Notification Date: March 30

Spring Entry Regular Decision:

  • Deadline: October 1
  • Notification Date: December 1

Some programs do not accept applications for spring entry. Visit our website for details.

Studio-Based Majors

The following programs are considered studio-based majors and are fall entry only:

  • Architecture
  • Art & Design
  • Fashion & Textile Design
  • Graphic Design
  • Industrial Design

Application Deadline: November 1

Portfolio and Optional Essay Due: November 1

Agricultural Institute

NC State’s 2-year Agricultural Institute (AGI) accepts freshman and transfer applicants.

Fall Entry:

  • Deadline: June 1
  • Decision Date: Rolling

Spring Entry:

  • Deadline: October 1
  • Decision Date: Rolling

Transfer Credit

Search our transfer course equivalency database to get an initial idea of which course credits from other institutions transfer to NC State. An official course evaluation is provided to students once they are admitted.

Visit Us 

Transfer Admissions Center
Joyner Visitor Center
1210 Varsity Drive
Raleigh, NC 27607
Phone: 919-513-1200

At NC State we value diversity and welcome international students. Located in Raleigh, North Carolina, we are proud to be home to the most diverse student body in North Carolina hosting students from 117 different countries.

The Office of International Services is the main resource for international students regarding immigration regulations, university policies, employment and travel. They provide assistance to you and your family as you prepare to arrive on campus and to smooth the transition to studying in the U.S.

What We Look For

Here are some of the items we're looking at when evaluating your transfer application to NC State:

  1. Your Academic Achievement
  2. Your financial ability: If you require an F-1 or J-1 student visa to study in the U.S., you must prove your ability to cover the estimated school expenses by completing the Certificate of Financial Responsibility.

  3. Your level of English language skills

  4. Your interest in the program you are applying for

  5. Your accomplishments/involvement outside the classroom

  6. Your background and opportunities

  7. Your individual story

Visit our International Admissions website for more information on application considerations, including interactive interviews (for Chinese applicants) and SAT or ACT composite scores (for Freshman applicants only).

How to Apply

Visit our website to view the following information in the following languages: SpanishKoreanMandarinPortuguese and Arabic.

  1. Review our deadlines: The application opens in August. Be sure to pay attention to additional requirements and timelines for Studio-Based Majors and the Agricultural Institute.
  2. Complete the application through the Common App or the Coalition App; we do not have a preference. Applicants for Studio-Based Majors will also need to submit a portfolio.
  3. Pay the application fee ($100 for international applicants).
  4. Submit your academic credentials. Visit our website for details.
  5. Show proof of English proficiency, if you are not from a country where English is the official or commonly spoken language.
  6. Check your status in your wolfPAW account throughout the application process.

Admissions Dates and Deadlines

Decisions are released on the corresponding notification date as long as the application is complete by the deadline. 

Fall Entry Early Action:

  • Deadline: November 1
  • Notification Date: January 30

Fall Entry Regular Decision:

  • Deadline: January 15
  • Notification Date: March 30

International applicants must apply by the deadline and will have their admissions decisions released on a rolling basis once your application is complete.

Spring Entry Regular Decision:

  • Deadline: October 1
  • Notification Date: December 1

Some programs do not accept applications for spring entry. Visit our website for details.

Studio-Based Majors

The following programs are considered studio-based majors and are fall entry only:

  • Architecture
  • Art & Design
  • Fashion & Textile Design
  • Graphic Design
  • Industrial Design

Application Deadline: November 1

Portfolio and Optional Essay Due: November 1

Agricultural Institute

NC State’s 2-year Agricultural Institute (AGI) accepts freshman and transfer applicants.

Fall Entry:

  • Deadline: June 1
  • Decision Date: Rolling

Spring Entry:

  • Deadline: October 1
  • Decision Date: Rolling

Use of Agents or Educational Agencies

NC State does not partner with incentive-based agents or educational agencies to represent the University or to administer any part of the application process.

We recognize that in many countries agents or consultants are retained by students and their families to assist in applying to universities in the United States. It is not necessary to engage an agent in order to have a strong chance of admission to NC State. Admission decisions are not based on the recommendations of agents.

NC State expects an application to be the work of the applicant and that all information on the application is complete, accurate and truthful. We may reject application materials, cancel an admissions offer or dismiss a student from attendance, if it is determined that application materials have been falsified.

It is critical that applicants use their own email address, phone number, and mailing address on their application to ensure that all communication from NC State is delivered in an accurate and timely manner. Missing any important communication from NC State may delay applicants’ application process and admission decisions.

Financial and Immigration Information

All international applicants seeking an F-1 or J-1 student visa must submit a Certificate of Financial Responsibility (CFR) as part of the admission process. The purpose of this form is to certify financial solvency for the student throughout his/her program of study - this is a federal requirement that must be met before the Office of Undergraduate Admissions can issue any visa certificates.

In addition, applicants deemed admissible who are already in the U.S. must also fill out a Visa Clearance Form (VCF).  This includes international applicants who are in a nonimmigrant visa category other than F-1 or J-1 (ex: H-4, L-2, DACA, E-2, Pending Permanent resident etc.). These applicants are not required to complete a CFR, unless they plan to change to F-1 or J-1 student status (if eligible).

CFR and VCF forms are reviewed by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions upon receipt.  If the information provided by the applicant is incomplete or not acceptable (e.g. sponsor and bank official signatures, bank statements, etc.), the applicant will be notified that his/her documents were not approved and why.  Notification is done via e-mail.  The applicant will then have an opportunity to correct the problem(s) and resubmit the form(s). Applicants can check the status of their applications through their WolfPAW account.

Once the applicant is considered admitted (fully or conditionally) to the University, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions mails out the appropriate Certificate of Eligibility (Form I-20 for an F-1 visa or Form DS-2019 for a J-1 visa) along with the full admission letter and other important pre-arrival information. Newly fully admitted international students will also receive information and guidance from the Office of International Services (OIS) via email prior to their arrival to NC State.  Conditionally admitted international students will received information from the Intensive English Program (IEP) prior to their arrival as well.

New F-1 and J-1 international students must check-in with the Office of International Services upon arrival to campus and attend the New International Student Orientation, which is scheduled a few days before the semester begins.

New international students who are accepted to NC State have the opportunity to participate in a Summer Start program during the month of July before fall classes begin. More information can be found here. https://newstudents.dasa.ncsu.edu/summerstart/

Contact Us 

Office of Undergraduate Admissions
Jeong Powell
Director, International Admissions and Recruitment
Phone: 919-515-2434
Email: jcpowell@ncsu.edu